Pea-shelling machine



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J. H. EMPSON.

PEA SHELLING MACHINE. I No. 546,095. Patented Sept. 10,1895.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J H EMPSON I PEA S'HELLING MACHINE. No. 546,095.

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Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

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PEA SHELLING MACHINE. No. 546,095. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

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J. H. EMPSON. PEA SHBLLING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 10, 1 95.

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NlTE TATES ATENT rion.

JOHN HOWARD EMPSON, OF LONGMONT, COLORADO.

PEA-SHELLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 54=6,095,'dated September 10, i895.

Application filed July 19, 1894;.

and I do declare the following to bea full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pea-shelling machines, and has for its object a machine which will be simple in construction, durable in character, and efficient in operation; and for these purposes it consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth.

It further consists of the construction and arrangement of novel thrasher blades or arms for the shell and drum or core of the machine, a novel cleaning device for the receiving apron or belt of the machine, a novel mechanism for adjusting the incline of the said apron,

and an agitator for said. apron and novel mechanism for operating the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a section of apea-shelling machine embodying my invention on line 00 00, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 represents a top or plan view of the machine, the canopy being removed. Fig. 3 represents an end View of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, vertical sectional views at right angles to each other of a thrasherblade adapted to be secured to the inner resents a perspective-view of the thrasherblade shown in Figs. and 5. Figs. 7 and 8 represent, respectively, vertical views at right angles to each other of a thrasher-blade adapted to be secured to the core or inner drum of the machine. Fig. 9 represents a perspective view of the agitator and wiper of the receiving-apron with their operating mechanisms. Fig. 10 represents a perspective view of novel means for adjusting the incline of the receivin g-apron of the machine. Fig. 11 represents a perspective View of a pea-shelling machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 6 rep- Serial No. 617,967. (No model.)

Similar letters indicate corrcsponding parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a pea-shelling machine embodying the features of my invention, and B designates the frame thereof. In suitable bearings on said frame is journaled the shaft O, on which the shell D is loosely mounted so as to turn or revolve thereon. The said shell is preferably conical, so as to have an inclined wall from the feeding trough or chute E toward the discharge end of the shell. Onthe inner face of the shell are secured the thrasher blades or fingers F, said blades being hollow and of the form of truncated pyramids, having the slots F in their sides, whereby the fastening-bolts G for securing them to the shell may be easily operated. The said blades are provided on their sides and tops with a cushion of vulcanized rubber.

On the outer surface of the shell D is a toothed rim or wheel H, which gears with a pinion on a shaft J, suitablyjournaled in the frame B and provided with a pulley K, having a belt L, which connects with a pulley M on the shaft 0, whereby rotary motion is conveyed to said shell from said shaft 0. The fast and loose pulleys N and P on said shaft 0 receivemotion from any suitable power or motor.

Secured on the shaft 0 so as to rotate therewith is the drum or core R of truncated conical form, as shown; but it may be of other form, if desired.- 'On the said drum are secured the thrasher-blades S, which are larger than those on the shell and are arranged on the drum so as to form a spiral thereon, while those on the shell are arranged in rows parallel with its axis. The blades S are hollow and a rejcovered'with rubber, forming the cushions T, which are thicker at the tips than at X designates an endless apron or belt mounted below the shell between flanges on the rollers Y Y, which are journaled in suitable bearings on the frame B. Each of the bearings of the lower roller Y is formed of a casting or piece Z of suitable material, having a segmental slot Z and a longitudinal slot Z therein. tVithin the slot Z is a movable block Z carrying a boss Z which forms a bearing for the journal of the roller Y. The block Z is adjustably secured within said slot by means of the screw-bolt Z and the clampingbolt Z the bolt Z working in lugs on said piece Z and block Z. A bolt Z in the slot Z and in the frame B holds the piece Z in the position desired to give the proper angle or incline to the apron. To agitate the said apron X, so as to separate the peas thereon from any pieces of pod or vine which may pass through the openings D in the shell, an agitator A is provided, the same consisting of a shaft 13, suitably journaled in an attachment to the frame B and having the arms 0 connected therewith. To the said arms is secured a cross-bar E, substantially parallel with the shaft B, so as to be adapted with the oscillations of said shaft to come in contact with the under face of the upper fold of the apron and quickly agitate or vibrate the same. To oscillate the said shaft B a forked arm F is connected with the same, one end of one limb of said arm being in such position as to be adapted to be struck or engaged by the cams G, secured to or formed on a pinion H, suitably mounted on a shaft and meshing with a pinion J on the shaft K, which is journaled in the frame 13. To the other. limb of the arm F is secured a headed rod L, which works in an opening in a bracket M, attached to the frame B, and between an adjustable nut on the rod L and the bracket is a coil-spring N.

On the shaft K is secured a wiper or cleaning device K for the apron X. The said wiper is formed of a strip of rubber or other suitable material clamped between two boards and having projecting edges which contact in the revolutions of the shaft with the outer face of the under fold of the apron, thereby cleansing it from any adhering material.

Attached to the side of the frame B below the upper end of the apron is a trough P, having journaled in its ends the shaft Q with the spiral conveyer R therein. The said shaft Q, is rotated by means of abeltor chain S, which passes over wheels on the shaft Y of the apron and the shaft K of the wiper or cleaning device. The shaft Y is rotated by means of the pulley V thereon, which is connected by a belt Y with a pulley Y on the shaft J, whereby motion is received from the shaft 0. In the end of the trough P, adjaveyer G is provided with suitable mechanism for operating the same, said mechanism being connected by means of the shafts X and X having bevel-gearing thereon with bevelgearing on the shaft Y, so that the said operating mechanism is'driven from the shaft (J. A canopy A covering the upper portion of the shell D, is secured to the sides of the frame. Secured to the frame B between the shell D and the apron X are the guides A for directing the material which falls through the openings D in the shell to the said apron.

From the foregoing description of the construction of the parts of the machine the manner of operation of the same is easily understood. The pea-vines are fed into the shell from the chute E and are separated or torn apart and advanced in the shell by means of the thrasher-blades of the shell and drum. At the same time the pods are forced open by contact with the said blades, the said contact being of a yielding character, though sufficiently forceful to burst the pod and free the peas therein without crushing or injuring the latter. The vines are carried through the shell to the extension U, where, dropping through the opening therein, they fall upon the conveyer G, which deposits them in some suitable receptacle for the same, while the peas which are released from the pods drop through the openings D in the shell upon the belt X and run down the same into any suitable place of deposit which may be provided.

The light chaff which drops through the openings D upon the apron X is carried upward by the motion of the same and over the top thereof into the trough P, along which it is carried by the spiral conveyer R to the chute W, and so on to the conveyer G. The action of the agitator A upon the apron serves to separate or free the peas from the chaff on the latter, so that they are not carried over the top of the apron with said chaff, but are permitted to run down the apron into the receptacle for the same. The wiper K removes any adhering matter from the apron, so that a clean surface is constantly presented for the chaff and peas to fall on in their dropping from the shell. By having the blades of the drum arranged spirally, while those of the shell are in parallel rows, a squeezing as well as a beating action of the blade is obtained, and at the same time the vines are advanced at a sufficient rate of speed through the shell. For the best results, the shell is rotated at a much less rate of speed than the drum, and the parts of the operating gearing are readily arranged so that the relative speeds desired may be obtained. If the drum or core R be made of cylindrical form, the length of the blades S thereon will be increased from the receiving to the discharge end of the shell, so as to have proper intercurrent parts with the blades of the shell, or the length of the blades of the shell may be increased in the same direction.

, Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. In a pea shelling machine, a frame, the rollers Y, Y, the piece Z having the segmental slot Z and the longitudinal slot Z the movable block Z having a boss Z forming a bearing for the roller Y, the screw bolt Z working in lugs on said piece and block, the clamping bolt Z and the bolt Z and an endless apron mounted on said rollers, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. In a pea shelling machine, a hollow blade having a cushion on its sides and tip, the cushion on its tip being thicker than that on its sides and said blade having an opening in its side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

3. In a pea shelling machine, an agitator for an endless belt thereof, consisting of the shaft B, suitablyjournaled, the arms 0 connected with said shaft, the cross bar E secured to said arms parallel with said shaft, the forked arm F connected with said shaft, a rotatable shaft with a cam thereon adapted'to contact with a limb of said forked arm, a headed rod secured to the other limb of said forked arm,

a bracket having an opening in which said rod Works, and a spring between said bracket and a nut on said rod, said parts being combined substantially as described.

4. In a pea shelling machine a rotatable drum, a thrasher blade consisting of a hollow shell having an opening in its side and abolt inserted in said opening and securing said blade to said drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a pea shelling machine a rotatable perforated shell, an inner drum, intereurrent blades on said shell and drum, an extension projecting from the discharge end of said shell with an openingin the bottom thereof, aconveyer below said opening, an endless apron below said shell, and atrough with spiral con- Veyer therein, said apron discharging into said trough, and said trough emptying into said first mentioned conveyer, said parts being combined substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HOWARD EMPSO'N,

Witnesses:

J. K. SWEENY. W. L. MGOATLIN, 

